Squamates - Lizards

Lizards are the most diverse group of reptiles. They come in a huge variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some lizards, like the Komodo monitor, can grow over 10 feet long. Others, like the Jaragua lizard, are able to curl up on a dime even when full grown.

A typical lizard has external ears, four legs, claws, eyes with eyelids, and a tail. There are exceptions, however, including the legless lizards, the earless lizards, and the true geckos which have no eyelids.

Scientists have found that lizards can see color, and some can even see in the ultraviolet wavelengths. Excellent eyesight allow lizards to snatch bugs out of the air and to communicate with body language.

A lizard’s sense of smell and taste is very acute. Monitor lizards even have forked tongues like snakes to enhance their smelling ability.

Lizards have found remarkable ways to survive. Many are covered in spines, some can stick to trees, most are able to lose their tails and regenerate them, others change colors, a few glide out of trees, and one species can even run across water!

Lizards are truely remarkable creatures.